Business

The Imperatives Of States Creation

Published

13 years ago

August 5, 2013

Requests for the creation of more states in Nigeria have been made on many occasions.

There have been requests for the creation of Okura out of Kogi; Aba from Abia; Njaba and Orashi out of Imo; Adada from Enugu State; Toru-Ebe from Delta, Edo and Ondo states; Hadejia out of Jigawa and Katagum from Bauchi State.

Similarly, there have been requests for the creation of Tiga out of Kano State; Karadua and Kafur from Katsina State: Lagoon from Lagos State; Oke-Ogun and Ibadan out of Oyo State; Kwararafa from Taraba and Amana out of Barno. Some people have also solicited the creation of Adamawa, Taraba and Savannah states out of the current Adamawa State; Edu , Gurara, Kainji and Borgu from Niger Apa from Benue, New Delta from Delta and Oduduwa out of Osun, among others.

The requests for states creation became so rampant to such an extent that the former Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Defence, Mr Wole Oke, once announced that the House had received more than 50 requests for the creation of new states.

Observers, therefore, wonder why various ethnic groups across the country have presented a plethora of requests for the creation of more states.

However, some political analysts contend that the sustained campaign for the creation of more states in the country is not because Nigerians have a penchant for promoting divisions of the polity.

Rather, they note that the proponents of new states are only seeking the expansion of the scope and platform for more citizens to express themselves and uti lise their potential under a federal system of government.

Political historians recall that state creation began in Nigeria on May 27, 1967, when the administration of Gen. Yakubu Gowon abolished the regional structure of the country and created 12 States.

They note that the administration of Gen. Murtala Mohammed created additional seven states in 1976, while 11 more states were created by former military President Ibrahim Babangida between 1987 and 1991.

They add that the administration of Gen. Sani Abacha created additional six states in 1996, which brought the current number of states to 36.

Observers, nonetheless, note that the existing states were all decreed into existence by military governments without consideration for the citizens’ consent, as stipulated in the constitution.

They recall that although former President Shehu Shagari initiated a move for the creation of 30 additional states through the machinery of the National Assembly; the move was scuttled, following the 1983 military intervention.

All the same, some cynics have, on several occasions, queried the wisdom in making requests for more states at this point in time.

In spite of such view-points, the Senate announced in 2010 that it would set up a sub-committee within its Constitution Review Committee to specifically consider various requests for the creation of more states across the country.

The Senate has assured the public that the proposed sub-committee would consider the requests and make recommendations.

Besides, the House of Representatives recently said that it had collated the views of Nigerians on the proposed constitution’s review across the country, stressing that states creation was one of the salient themes of the people’s proposals.

Nevertheless, some cynics kick against plans to create more states in Nigeria, stressing that virtually all the existing states depend solely on allocations from the Federation Account for their survival.

They insist that states creation should not be a priority project because every new state will mean an extra burden on the Federation Account, as some of them may not be self-sustaining.

A public analyst, Mr Qudus Lawal, wrote in Daily Post, an online publication, that the quest for states, as contained in the 1958 Willink Commission Report, arose from the concern of minority groups that their interests were not protected in the then Northern, Western and Eastern Regions.

“The report correctly noted that states creation would in fact not be a solution to the fears of minorities, as additional states may not guarantee the creation of another minority group in the new states.

“Some of those craving for new states opined that new states will curb persistent ethnic clashes being experienced in some parts of the country, an example that readily comes to mind is Kaduna South.

“If our aim is to use states creation to settle disputes then, we should be ready to create at least 250 homogenous states.

” My suggestion is that we maintain the present number of states since collapsing them is unlikely, while creating several functional local governments.

” Lawal’s sentiments notwithstanding, a former member of the House of Representatives, Mr Joseph Gumbari, said in a media interview that: “I look at these requests as coming from people who are desirous of development.

“Looking at the history of the creation of states, it has been an exercise that has brought about development; it has also brought government closer to the people.

“From the three regions to the four regions after independence; from the 12-state structure to 19 States and to the present 36-states structure; it is very obvious that development has come to those areas.

“It is expected that some of these people who feel the need for development would always be engaged in demanding for new states.

“We expect that whatever demands that are to be submitted to the National Assembly, all requests will be treated dispassionately, while taking into consideration the realities on ground.

Sharing similar sentiments, the Coordinator of the National Association of State Movements (NASM), Dr Yakubu Ugwolawo, said that states were universal1y accepted as the building blocks of development in a federal system.

“Creation of more states will spread development across the land and help bring the much touted dividends of democracy to the door steps of the average Nigerian; the creation of more states will also create new jobs,” he said.

Ugwolawo said that as part of efforts to convince sceptics on the need for more states creation, NASM, in collaboration with the Coalition for Responsive Governance, would organise a seminar on May 27 to stimulate public understanding of the advantages of having more states.

Ugwolawo stressed that the creation of more states in the country would ensure more rapid and even development of rural and urban areas, while enhancing the citizens’ living standards.

He noted that many Nigerians wanted the creation of new states to satisfy their political and development aspirations, calling on the National Assembly not to fail them in that regard.

All in all, analysts urge the National Assembly’s committees on state creation to evaluate all the requests for the creation of more states and make positive recommendations on those that meet the constitutional requirements.

They say this will enhance the citizens’ confidence in the legislature and boost democratic governance.

Olaitan writes for NAN.

Business

Boat Mishap Kills Pastor, Wife And Church Members In Brass Water

Published

23 hours ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

A boat accident in Bayelsa state has killed a serving Pastor, Wife and other church members along Brass waterways

The sad incident happened at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the Pastor, wife and members of his church were in a programme.

?Tide confirmed that the lifeless body of the Pastor’s wife has been found and deposited in a mortuary while the remains of her husband ,the Pastor is yet to be recovered

as search party are still ongoing.

Although the real cause of the boat Mishap is not yet known as at the time of this report, our Correspondent gathered that the identities of the Pastor, wife and church members were not disclosed to the public.

The mishap, Tide gathered occurred on Friday morning when the church members were on a boat transit

The Bayelsa State government and the state police command are yet to issue official statement’s on the sad accident

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Business

Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

Published

23 hours ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Council of Nigeria Civil Service Union has called on the State Government to urgently scrap the contributory pension scheme, describing it as unfavourable to long-serving civil servants in the state.

Chairman of the union, Chukwuka Osuma, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt, recently.

Osuma said the current pension structure has continued to worsen post-retirement hardship for workers.

He noted that the contributory pension scheme had failed to provide adequate retirement security for workers who had spent many years in service, especially those approaching retirement age.

According to him, civil servants who had served for more than 20 years were among the worst affected under the scheme, insisting that many retirees could no longer cope with prevailing economic realities.

He also informed that the Union has made moves to showcase their concerns, pleading with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to abolish the pension policy and introduce a more favourable arrangement for affected workers.

“The union was not opposed to pension reforms, the contributory scheme should only apply to newly employed workers or those with fewer years in service”, he said.

Osuma explained that workers who had already spent decades in the civil service ought to remain under a more secure pension structure capable of guaranteeing stability after retirement.

The labour leader further noted that inflation and the rising cost of living had continued to erode the value of retirement savings, thereby increasing the suffering of pensioners across the country.

He also appealed to the state government to consider extending the years of service in the civil service from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

Osuma argued that such adjustment had become necessary in view of present-day economic realities and changing conditions in the workplace.

The unionist also reviewed that similar policies had already been adopted in some sectors and jurisdictions, expressing optimism that the State could also implement the reforms for the benefit of workers.

He however, commended Governor Fubara for approving an N85,000 minimum wage for workers in the state, noting that the amount was above the national benchmark of N70,000.

Osuma also acknowledged the government’s efforts in the area of workers’ promotions and bonuses, but insisted that pension reforms and extension of years of service remained critical to the long-term welfare and stability of civil servants in Rivers State.

By: King Onunwor

Business

FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

Published

6 days ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has launched the South-West zonal engagement and ministerial advocacy tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria share capital mobilisation, sensitisation and cooperative sector digitalisation.

Reports say the initiative was launched through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

According to reports, the advocacy tour, organised by the ministry’s Federal Department of Cooperatives, began on Monday in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Abdullahi described the exercise as a strategic effort to reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity.

“Today represents a defining moment in our collective determination to reposition the cooperative sector as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity,” he said.

The minister noted the modern cooperative movement in Nigeria originated in the South-West following the 1934 Strickland Report, which led to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Ordinance of 1935.

According to him, the decision to commence the sensitisation and share capital mobilisation tour in the region is symbolic, as it marks a return to the roots of cooperative development in the country.

Abdullahi said the advocacy tour was a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs held in Abuja in March 2026.

He said the council approved the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the cooperative sector and align it with the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.

“The reform programme focuses on seven strategic pillars, including governance reforms, cooperative financing and the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digitalisation, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities, and strategic partnerships,” he said.

He said the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and the digitalisation of the cooperative sector were the two major transformational initiatives under the programme.

“The Cooperative Bank of Nigeria is aimed at rebuilding a strong cooperative financial system capable of supporting cooperators, farmers, artisans, traders, SMEs, youths, women and persons with disabilities with accessible and affordable financial services,” he said.

Abdullahi emphasised that the proposed bank would be government-enabled but not government-funded.

“Government is not establishing the bank as an owner, nor will it rely on Treasury Single Account funds.

“The role of government through the FMAFS is to provide policy support, stakeholder coordination, regulatory facilitation and an enabling environment under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme,” he said.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to cooperative sector transformation.

She described cooperatives as critical tools for promoting inclusive growth, grassroots productivity, food security, financial inclusion and community wealth creation.

Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos State would continue to support reforms and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (2025–2030).

“Together, let us build a cooperative ecosystem that is modern, transparent, digitally enabled, financially inclusive and globally competitive.

“Let us build cooperatives that not only mobilise savings, but also mobilise prosperity,” she said.